Anitha Venugopal, Christy Josephine S, Vanathi Murugesan, Manohar Divya, Tandon Radhika, Ravindran Meenakshi
Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Aravind Eye Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India.
Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Aravind Eye Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Pondicherry, India.
Indian J Ophthalmol. 2025 Apr 17. doi: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_2280_24.
Refractive kerato-lenticule extraction surgery (KLex), also known as "small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE)," or "smooth incision keratomileusis" (SILK), represents a significant advancement in refractive surgery with its minimally invasive approach and impressive success rates. Despite these advancements, postoperative infectious keratitis, though rare, poses a critical challenge and profoundly impacts visual outcomes. Unlike infections following surface ablation procedures, which benefit from direct drug penetration into the site of infection, KLex and LASIK face hurdles due to the depth of infection location. In laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), infections begin at the interface between the flap and the stromal bed, whereas in KLex, they occur within the stromal bed. This position of the infiltrate poses the challenge of inadequate drug penetration, making management more complex. This review explores the nuances of post-KLex infectious keratitis, delving into the incidence, predisposing factors, and pathophysiology. It also covers the common organisms causing the infection, clinical manifestations, and management strategies. By offering a comprehensive guide, this paper aims to furnish clinicians with the knowledge necessary for vigilant monitoring and timely intervention, thereby enhancing patient outcomes following KLex procedures.
屈光性角膜透镜切除术(KLex),也被称为“小切口透镜切除术(SMILE)”或“平滑切口角膜磨镶术”(SILK),以其微创方法和令人瞩目的成功率代表了屈光手术的重大进展。尽管有这些进展,但术后感染性角膜炎虽然罕见,却是一个关键挑战,并对视觉效果产生深远影响。与表面消融手术后的感染不同,后者受益于药物直接渗透到感染部位,而KLex和准分子原位角膜磨镶术(LASIK)由于感染位置的深度而面临障碍。在准分子激光原位角膜磨镶术(LASIK)中,感染始于瓣片与基质床之间的界面,而在KLex中,感染发生在基质床内。浸润的这种位置带来了药物渗透不足的挑战,使管理更加复杂。本综述探讨了KLex术后感染性角膜炎的细微差别,深入研究了发病率、易感因素和病理生理学。它还涵盖了引起感染的常见微生物、临床表现和管理策略。通过提供全面的指南,本文旨在为临床医生提供进行警惕监测和及时干预所需的知识,从而提高KLex手术患者的治疗效果。